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Psamathobledius Herman. This genus and Microbledius were recently (Herman, 1972) separated from Bledius for several very small species whose tarsi are 5-segmented, those of Bledius being 4-segmented. Herman listed 3 species. They are apparently all salt marsh inhabitants. This genus is distinguished from Microbledius by the presence of a lateral carina separating the pronotal disc from the hypomera.

Microbledius Herman. The genus was created recently for a group of small species formerly placed in Bledius. Herman (1972) placed 10 new world species in the genus. At least M. actitus Herman is found on a marine salt marsh.

Sartallus Sharp. The single species, S. signalis Sharp, is a pale insect about 5-6.5 mm in length. The tarsi are 5-segmented and the tibiae spinose. It is found in Australia where it is associated with sandy, coastal regions. It hides under seaweed and feeds chiefly on dead barnacles.

Carpelimus Leach. More than 300 species are known in this genus. They are small, somber colored insects of rather uniform appearance and consequently are difficult to study. They are found mostly at the margins of ponds and streams or associated with decaying organic materials and are often attracted to lights. The tibiae are without spines. The inner apical angles of the elytra are rectangular and the middle coxae contiguous. The eyes are coarsely faceted. Ten species have been reported from salt marshes in various parts of the world and one species, C. lucidus Cameron, from seaweed at Zanzibar.

Oxytelus Gravenhorst. More than 100 species have been placed in this genus. The pronotum is carinate and often shining and the middle coxae are widely separated. The anterior tibiae are spinose. These insects are often found in decaying organic material so it is not surprising that four species have been reported from Great Britain from seaweed.

Subfamily Proteininae

Members of this small subfamily are similar to members of the Omaliinae but lack the ocelli so characteristic of the latter.

Proteinus Latreille. Twenty three species, almost all from the North Temperate Zone, are included in this genus. The species are often found in decaying vegetable matter so it is not unusual that Fowler (1888) reported two species also from decaying seaweed from the British Islands. These are small oval insects with long elytra.

Subfamily Xantholininae

Members of this subfamily differ from all other staphylinids in the presence of a small sclerite called the neck plate which is adjacent to the anterior margin of the prosternum. They are linear, highly flexible insects.